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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To take my son to A&E?

65 replies

RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:36

My DS is 2 years old and "fell" in the playground on Sunday. (He didn't really fall, but he landed badly on his foot when climbing down from some equipment - with me there to help him Blush)

Fast forward to today, he's not complained of any pain since the fall, but he's limping and I don't think it's improving.

I just took him to the out of hours doctor and they tried to x-ray him but said it needs at least two people in protective suits to restrain him for the x-ray, and so I have no choice but to take him to the hospital if I want him to be looked at.

I work full-time, so I would either need to take time off to go during the day, or I can take him tonight. (Or not at all Confused)

I phoned the hospital to check how busy they were, and they said it's a quiet night so we may be waiting an hour or so.

Is it unfair/unreasonable to take him to A&E tonight?

OP posts:
saffy85 · 26/04/2011 20:38

Take him. Why on earth would you think it was unreasonable to make absolutely sure your DS is ok? Confused

Original poster
RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:38

Also in the balance - we'll need to take public transport as we don't have a car, but I live in a city plus can walk home in 40 minutes if we miss the last buses.

OP posts:
TurtlesAreRetroRight · 26/04/2011 20:38

Nope, take him in. They'll triage you through to paeds a&e and refer you on for an x ray.

tulpe · 26/04/2011 20:39

I would take him in. A&E in the evenings is dire but you will feel crap if it subsequently does need attention and you leave it any longer.

Original poster
RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:39

Saffy - just because he's not in pain, he's walking on it so it's not urgent, and it's already quite late....

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 26/04/2011 20:39

I would take him if it's only an hours wait and you'd have to take time off work tomorrow.

Why would it be unfair? You mean to other hospital users? If it is they said they're not busy so no probs.

Hope he's ok Smile

chicletteeth · 26/04/2011 20:40

Unfair/unreasonable on who?

I don't get it - he may need an x-ray, what are you waiting for?

LIZS · 26/04/2011 20:40

Up to you but you can hardly go to work if he has injured himself and is untreated surely ? Hmm However I doubt he'd be cooperative at this time of night so go first thing.

iliketea · 26/04/2011 20:40

Please take him, I was told by a GP that any child with a limp needs to be investigated. Take a taxi if need be, and a buggy so if you need to walk home, you can.

HalleluiaScot · 26/04/2011 20:41

Take him.

dustyhousewithdustypeople · 26/04/2011 20:41

YANBU

If it's not improving, you'll keep worrying until it gets looked at.

Hope it's all ok though.

worraliberty · 26/04/2011 20:41

I'd take time off work and take him in the day.

It's late now, it's not particularly warm, he'll be tired, the waiting times in A&E are very rarely as described because that's just the wait to see someone and get an X-Ray.

You could be waiting a few hours after that for a Dr to actually look at the X-Rays and make a diagnosis.

Original poster
RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:43

He went to nursery today and was fine, though they didn't take him out for a walk with the other children because of the limp.

It's unfair on him mainly, he hates doctors and cries so much, and I can't go in with him to the x-ray as may be pregnant.

Think we'd better go though, it's only putting off the inevitable to leave it till tomorrow.

OP posts:
FabbyChic · 26/04/2011 20:44

It won't improve its clearly a sprain, he wouldn't be able to walk on a break, and the area would be swollen and all bruised if it was broken.

pantaloons · 26/04/2011 20:45

My dd was 2 last year, she fell down a few of our stairs and started limping. She didn't really complain about pain, but didn't want to put weight on it. We popped her to the local walk in centre who said she would be screaming if it was broken and sent us home. The next day she was still limping so we took her to a minor injuries unit, they had a proper look at her and she sat whilst they x rayed her. She had broken a small bone and spent a few weeks in plaster!

So, yes, I would take him.

Original poster
RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:45

Thanks for the advice everyone. Putting shoes on now... will let you know how we get on.

OP posts:
notsoqueenofclean · 26/04/2011 20:46

another pointless AIBU thread...

chicletteeth · 26/04/2011 20:46

You can walk on a break.
My nephew did for six days but didn't moan about it and when they discovered it was broken (x-ray) it had already begun to heal.
Fortunately in his case, it had begun to heal in a good position otherwise a re-break may have been on the cards!

PumpkinBones · 26/04/2011 20:47

I was going to say I would go tonight, but then I read you don't have a car. 40 minutes is a long-ish walk if its so late you've missed the last bus, and it's already pretty late. Also, if it needs 2 people to restrain him, you might need to wait ages for those additional people to be available - as they have fewer staff at night. I would take time off work and go first thing. Is he already asleep?

worraliberty · 26/04/2011 20:47

Poor little thing...let him sleep tonight and take him tomorrow.

If he were to spend the next god knows how many hours in A&E, you'd surely keep him off nursery tomorrow anyway? Confused

hanaka88 · 26/04/2011 20:48

My DS complained of no pain when he 'fell' up a step, but was limping. Turned out he had a hairline fracture, needed some painkillers and a caste as the limp lasted ages.

Sometimes children don't complain but if he's limping I would say it hurts him

TethersEnd · 26/04/2011 20:49

Good luck RunningDay, I hope he's ok Smile

Original poster
RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:56

notsoqueenof mean, that was uncalled for. There's a lot of useful advice and experience being shared. Not every thread needs a bunfight to be worthwhile.

OP posts:
Original poster
RunningDay · 26/04/2011 20:57

Thanks TethersEnd!

OP posts:
saffy85 · 26/04/2011 21:01

I didn't mean it the way it sounded but it sounds like he needs checking over soon. Probably better off waiting til tomorrow though if he isn't in any pain now. Hopefully all is well Smile